Later, Chad changed his phone wallpaper to a cool-toned glamour shot of Jade. She hadn't let the winter chill stop her from lying in a field in a gown for a sultry photoshoot, teeth chattering but determined to capture the perfect image.

No matter what Chad said, she wouldn't listen. "Beauty requires a little sacrifice," she'd retort, shrugging off the cold. Grandma Aubree watched from the doorway in her festive red quilted jacket, shivering just looking at her granddaughter out there posing in the frosty air. Eventually, Chad took a few snaps, and even he, a grown man, couldn't stand the cold. After the final shot, he scooped up his sister and carried her back to the warmth of home.

Inside, Chad scolded her, their mom lectured her, and even the grandparents chimed in as they walked by, calling her a silly goose for wearing a dress in the winter cold just for some pictures.

Mia received the photos from her bestie. "Just tell me, aren't they stunning? Bet Andre never took ones this good of you!"

"Who took them?"

"My Chad," Molly boasted, pride swelling in her voice.

Mia felt a pang of envy and showed the photos to her husband. "Look at these pictures Chad took of Molly. Even the filters are top-notch. Now look at what you've snapped. They're so bad, I can hardly recognize myself." Andre, the ever-patient cop, wasn't offended. "I'm usually at crime scenes taking evidence photos. What's there to be jealous about?" he said with a shrug.

Mia rolled her eyes and relayed his words to Molly, "Don't get too cocky. Andre says cops hone their photography skills snapping shots of grime."

Jade sent a skull emoji and quipped, "Mia, if Andre wasn't such a big shot, I'd cut ties with him in a heartbeat."

wife's silhouette with a mischievous smirk, planning a playful revenge. The Cedillo family threw a lavish christening party that was the talk of the town. Chad, scheduled for a day shift, managed to wrangle a couple of days

always the sly one, teased Molly, "You know, even if you hadn't sweet-talked him, Chad would've shown up to

"So..."

her deduction, "Chad just wanted to hear you

knowing smile. "Mia, ever since you had your baby, I

Mia cradled her baby, accompanying her husband to the family altar to

crimson with hidden fastenings added just in case. Her son Henry was so used to breastfeeding he turned his nose up at formula, even though Mia had prepared milk bags in advance. She had this feeling that he wouldn't take anything but the real deal, so the dress was designed with

with gold threads in a pattern symbolizing good fortune, with a fringe of diamonds adding weight and texture. Every yellow detail on the dress

bottom, I'll just nip a diamond from

were a fortune

in a snug tiger costume, his chubby cheeks and

personality. But the best part? It was

Cedillo clan, they felt a

arms, and the room full of elders surged forward. "Henry's growing up to look just like Andre as a boy, and he's so chubby now. Look at him,

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